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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 41

The Miner's Oath. — Chapter III—Continued

The Miner's Oath.

Chapter IIIContinued.

Armed with this resolution, Nelly began to cool towards Bradshaw, snubbing him whenever occasion offered and awakening in the man's heart deep and passionate resentment.

One night, after some of her foolish taunts, he grasped her arm with such passionate force as to blacken and discolor the delicate skin, and Nelly seized upon this insult as an excuse to be quit of him entirely.

"Don't come near me any more," she said. You're just a madman, I think, tearing one's arm like that. I'll believe now fast enough all the fine stories I've heard of you; " and as she spoke Bradshaw cursed her in his passion, calling her names which no woman could forgive, and, bidding her look to herself, added "for, by——, if you don't have me you shall have no other man."

This quarrel took place about the end of the week, and on the following Sunday Nelly determined that she would "make up" with Will, and that both he and she should break off their acquaintance with the Bradshaws.

Full of this purpose, therefore, a little before the time for evening service, she donned her smartest and most becoming dress, and waited at the window to see Stevens go past. He soon appeared in sight, but to Nelly's vexation and amazement he was walking with Mary Bradshaw, and, for the first time in her life, a jealous pang darted into her heart, and with a firm determination to speak to Stevens that evening she followed them down to the chapel.

On entering the building she seated herself nearly opposite to Will, so that he could not fail to observe her, the moment he looked up. Presently their eyes met, and Nelly, who was eagerly watching him, saw, with a feeling of real pleasure and triumph, a deep flush spread over his face; and, though he at once averted his eyes from her corner, she knew that her presence there was anything but indifferent to him, and could see by his restless movements and changing color the struggle which was going on in his heart.

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At last the service was over, and Will rose hastily, leaving the chapel almost before it was finished, and Nelly, ashamed before her companions to make any public exhibition of her wishes, was forced to remain till the rest of the congregation begin to disperse, and had the mortification of seeing Stevens vanish at the door before she could even rise from her so it. "But he may go into the woods as he often does on Sundays," she thought, and she at once decided to follow him there.

Her hopes were fulfilled, for Stevens, almost without thinking, did indeed turn in that direction as soon as he came out of the chapel; for so agitated did he feel at again seeing Nolly, and so angry at himself for being so that he felt it would be impossible for him at the present moment to speak to any of his acquaintances. Harrying on therefore, with unequal stops and bowed head, he sought the most lonely and unfrequented paths in the wood, and when he reached the spot where he and Nelly had last parted, he stopped, and almost groaned aloud over his own weakness.

"Was the old feeling still there, then?" he thought; "the old passionate pain?" The love which he hoped was crushed out or forgotten, could the sight of that beautiful face so easily awaken? But a hasty light step disturbed these bitter reflections, and, looking quickly round, he saw, through the fast-gathering twilight, Nelly come running towards him, holding out her hands, and panting with the unusual exertion.

"Willie!" she said. "Willie!" and then stopped breathless, excited, and Handsome; while, with a strange throb in his heart, Stevens involuntarily hold out his hand, which Nelly eagerly clasped.

"I've run after you all the way," she continued, smiling, and looking up in his face, "all the way. I could not get out of chapel as quick as you did, and some of the folks stopped me to talk, but I got away from them as fast as I could, and ran after you. I thought, maybe," she added archly, "you would come here, and I want to be friends, Willie; I want you to forgive mo, and forget how silly I've been.'

He made her no answer, but stood there silent and full of emotion, while the girl wont on explaining her conduct, clasping his bands, and speaking with real affection.

"I only meant to tease you," she said. "Dear Willie, I never cared anything for him; for that Bradshaw, I mean; never, never. But when you vexed me so much, I hardly minded what I was doing. So, say you'll forgive me—say you'll forgive me again! "

With a sudden impulse, Stevens put out his arms as she spoke, and clasped her close to his bosom.

"I musn't forgive thee," he whispered; "I musn't forget—but-but—"and then he stooped down and kissed her again and again, holding her fast in his arms, scarcely conscious of what he was doing, powerless to express all he thought or felt.

"You have forgiven me then?" said Nelly softly, looking up with her blue eyes into his face.

But before he could answer her, they were both startled by a sudden crashing of the underwood close to the path-where they stood; and the next minute, pushing his way through the trees, Bradshaw stood scowling before them. He had seen Nelly leaving the chapel, though she in her haste had not observed him, had followed her into the woods, and had witnessed her meeting and apparent reconciliation with Stevens with the most furious jealousy and anger.

"So you are at your old tricks, Miss Nell," he said, roughly, with a hard, coarse laugh; "kissing and hugging;" and then, with sudden passion, changing his voice, and rudely grasping her shoulder, he went on,—

"But I won't have it, my lass; I won't have it. You have played with, and have tossed over this one and that—but you'd better not try it with me."

"Take your hand off," said Nelly, angrily. "You know I said I never would speak to you more."

"Ay, you said—you said, but we know what that moans with you women. I tell thee what it is," he continued in a low, determined tone; if thou hast naught to do wi' me, there's nobody else shall ever have thee."

"I won't ask your leave. Don't stand and listen to him, Willie, but come away."

But Stevens, angry, jealous, and confused, stood still.

"What right has he to speak to thee like that?" he said.

"Right! " answered Bradshaw, with an odious smile; "a fine right! Let her deny it if she can, how she has carried on with me for a month and more."

"It is a lie," said Nelly, ready to cry. "Take away your hand, and let me alone."

"Let her alone, man," said Stevens, passionately, to Bradshaw, flinging back the hand he still held on her shoulder. "Let her alone, I say; though if ye have any right to talk as ye do, ye can have her, and right welcome for me.'

"She knows what kind of right I have," said Bradshaw; and she shall play none of her tricks with me, can tell her that."

"I want nothing to do with you," said Nelly, turning her back upon him.

"Come away, Willie," and she laid her hand on Stevens's arm, thus rousing yet more the jealousy of Bradshaw.

"Be done with that," he said, with a dreadful oath," or by the God who made us, I'll have thy life or his."

"Come away, Willie," whispered Nelly. "Nay, don't look at me like that; don't leave me alone. I'm afraid to be left."

"What's this man to thee, then? " said Stevens. "Answer me now, when we are both standing together."

"Nothing," said Nelly, boldly turning round and facing Bradshaw. "Nothing at all—that's just what I can tell him."

"What!" said Bradshaw, furiously, "what! am I nothing? " And, then with vindictive passion, he added, "I'll show thee if I am nothing—before many days be past."

"Don't listen to him, Willie—come away."

"He shall listen to me, though," shouted Bradshaw. Look to thyself, man. Thou hast come between me and this lass, and must bide thy deed."

"She wants to have nothing to say to thee," said Stevens; "neither do I; so let us alone. "

Let thee alone! No" and he swore a fearful oath—"If there's a God above, or a hell below, I'll have thy life for this night's work. Look to thyself, man, for thy days are short.

"My life is not in thy hands," said Stevens, with a sort of solemnity. "I am not afraid."

Thou'lt rue this day no less," said Bradshaw; and without another word he turned and left them.

"What a fearful man! " said Nelly. "Oh! Willie, I'm so glad he's gone; "but Stevens put back the hand she put into his as she spoke.

"Don't touch me," he said, with a kind of mournful bitterness. "Don't put thy hand in mine. I can't play thy game, Nelly, nor do I wish to learn—it's enough for me to be true and straight."

"But am I not true, Willie? You don't believe that madman's lies; do you? "

"I scarce know what I believe, or what I think." replied Stevens; but this I know—thou art fit for no honest man's wife, Nelly a good woman has but love for one."

"But I have no love for Bradshaw; none, indeed, Willie. Will you believe me?"

"Why hast thou driven him wild, then? Why hast thou led him on and played with him, and tossed him back? Is love naught, that thou shouldst make toys of men's hearts and souls?"

"On! Willie!" and the girl hung her head, for Stevens's manner was very solemn.

"I have loved thee well," he continued, after a pause; "too well Nelly-but it must be over now. I cannot trust myself or thee," and he turned his head away deeply affected, but Nelly clung to him, and would not let him go.

"Don't," she said, " don't leave me, Willie! I'm not so bad; only foolish. Bradshaw has no right to speak as he did."

"What trust coald I have in thee?" answered Stevens. "What trust or faith? A man's wife should be his rest and stay. When I came back to my home where would I find thee?"

"Indeed, indeed, Willie, I will try to be good to thee."

"Thou would'st need no trying, if thou loved me aright," said Stevens; "but we'll say no more; goodbye to thee, Nelly, good bye and God help thee; "and the girl felt a tear on the man's cheek as he pressed his lips for the last time to hers.

"He will come back to me," she thought, with a kind of triumph. "He loves me too well to go."